by David Ball
Staff Writer
Since 1989, JaxPride has been working to reduce crime in Jacksonville. Not by patrolling the streets. Not by forming education coalitions or initiating studies.
No, JaxPride’s effect on crime is a byproduct of the organization’s main goal of eliminating visual blight and creating beauty and civic pride in Jacksonville. They help by cleaning up.
“A cleaner neighborhood is a safer neighborhood,” said Executive Director Susan Harrell. “That’s a huge deal. It’s something that’s been proven and something we’ve been advocating for years.”
With Jacksonville’s violent crime rate at an all-time high and anti-crime initiatives becoming the order of the day, Harrell hopes many civic, business, religious and other groups participate in JaxPride Week 2008.
The annual JaxPride Week, beginning this Saturday and ending the weekend of March 1, is expected to bring together hundreds of Jacksonville residents to improve the city’s appearance, and those that participate could walk away with an award.
Neighborhood and civic associations, schools, businesses, governmental agencies and other non-profit groups can use the week to work on projects that range from creating window box gardens to learning about historic preservation to pitching in for a neighborhood cleanup.
Many such groups have likely already received a brochure in the mail to submit their project to JaxPride for judging.
“We’ve mailed out probably close to 5,000 brochures across Jacksonville, and it’s the individual communities that decide their particular project and location,” said Harrell. “Our own board of directors for the first time is going to be doing a project this year to kick of the week. We’ll be cleaning up Cuba Hunter Park on the Southside.”
Harrell said cleanup projects are popular, such as the Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Commission’s project to clean up Jefferson, Illinois and Venus streets near Shands Jacksonville beginning on Feb. 27.
However, the projects can also be educational and informational and be performed by a group or individual.
“I remember an eighth grader at James Weldon Johnson (Middle School) did a science project where he measured the litter in his neighborhood,” said Harrell. “He measured how much came from cars, what it was. The majority was cigarette butts. After he measured it, he cleaned it up.”
Projects don’t have to be only for this week, as any beautification or other acceptable project completed in the 2007 calendar year can be registered for JaxPride Week. Groups that register their projects become eligible for a JaxPride Week Award, which will be given at the annual “Ideas & Actions” forum luncheon
This year’s forum is at the Osborn Center on April 9 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The awards will be presented by City Council President Daniel Davis. In recognition of the increasing urgency of resource preservation, JaxPride announced this year’s forum theme will be “green neighborhood design,” which integrates the principles of smart growth, new urbanism and green buildings.
In addition, the annual event for the first time will include electronic audience polling to provide interaction between the audience and guest panelists, which this year are Shelley Lauten and Jennifer Languell.
Lauten is the lead consultant and director for Myregion.org, a seven-county initiative that brings business, institutional and government leaders along with citizens together to build a regional vision for Central Florida. Languell, founder and president of Trifecta Construction Solutions, is a leader in educating the development and construction industries and homebuyers about the benefits of green building.
The moderator for the discussion will be Brian Teeple, CEO of the Northeast Florida Regional Council.
“We are excited to increase awareness in the community about green neighborhood design,” said Oliver Barakat, chair of Ideas & Actions and president of JaxPride. “Not only does this important topic address environmental sustainability, but also addresses many of the principles surrounding smart growth and urbanism that JaxPride has supported for so many years.”
To register a project, get project ideas or for further information regarding the luncheon forum, contact Susan Harrell at 356-2846 or [email protected].